{"id":2182,"date":"2010-07-14T10:17:36","date_gmt":"2010-07-14T16:17:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/?p=2182"},"modified":"2019-10-16T13:39:43","modified_gmt":"2019-10-16T19:39:43","slug":"zebra-ensures-reliability-for-innovative-dod-rfid-compliance-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/zebra-ensures-reliability-for-innovative-dod-rfid-compliance-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Zebra Ensures Reliability for Innovative DOD RFID Compliance Service"},"content":{"rendered":"

Challenge<\/strong>
\nMany suppliers to the U.S. Department of Defense<\/a> (DOD)\u00e2\u20ac\u201despecially those who use radio frequency identification (RFID) printer\/encoders<\/a> and supplies from Zebra Technologies<\/a> \u00e2\u20ac\u201d have learned that producing accurate RFID labels<\/a> for shipments is the easy part of meeting the DOD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s compliance requirements. The hard part is matching shipments to contract numbers and orders, generating the documentation for each shipment and electronically submitting it to the DOD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) and other computer systems.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153RFID labels are just one part of meeting the DOD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s requirements,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Anne Ramppen, government products coordinator at New Dynamics, which provides monthly shipments of earplugs to the DOD. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Wide Area Workflow system needs contract numbers, CAGE codes, and product numbers, and each RFID label number associated with each shipment is also required\u00e2\u20ac\u201dthat\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a lot of numbers to be typing in.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The term \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcslap-and-ship\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 is a gross over-simplification of the reality of meeting the DOD RFID mandate,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Cotty England, chief technology officer of Odyssey RFIDTM. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The common misconception is that generating the RFID tag is the core challenge, but as the DOD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s commercial suppliers get actual exposure to RFID, they quickly realize that the core challenges are the work flow process control, flexibility and seamless WAWF integration.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Solution<\/strong>
\nData management is a common problem for DOD suppliers. Odyssey RFIDTM has created a solution to handle data entry, encoding, label printing and reporting needs by pairing an easy-to-use Web-based application for data entry with reliable Zebra printer<\/a>\/encoders to output compliant shipping labels.<\/p>\n

The Odyssey RFID 4DODTM service simplifies DOD reporting requirements for suppliers by eliminating most data management activities. Odyssey RFID 4DODTM is a hosted application that Odyssey configures for each client. Instead of entering numerous contract numbers, contractor ID and item codes, suppliers use drop-down menus to prepare and submit shipment information to the DOD. Suppliers have the option of using Odyssey\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s service bureau to print RFID-encoded shipping labels, or to produce them on site with their own Zebra\u00c2\u00ae R110XiTM printer\/encoder<\/a> that is offered with the service. With hosted software and off-site printing\/encoding, users do not need to install or maintain any hardware or software to meet their DOD RFID compliance requirements. Suppliers simply make selections from validated pull-down lists, and the software handles the rest.<\/p>\n

The system directs a printer\/encoder either at the supplier\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s site or at Odyssey RFID\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s service center to produce the required smart labels. The labels are validated for data integrity and readability to DOD specifications with an Alien Technology<\/a> reader Odyssey RFIDTM provides as part of the solution, and then the RFID labels are applied to the cases and pallets. Odyssey\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s service center validates that the shipment data is correctly packed and all tags are readable prior to automated submission to WAWF and other government systems.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Odyssey\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ASP (application service provider) service worked very well for us because we ship products to the DOD from several locations,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Brian Meyer of Hawkeye Glove Manufacturing, which uses the complete service for data management, reporting and label printing. Hawkeye selects DOD order information from the browser-based system and receives RFID-encoded shipping labels from Odyssey RFIDTM by express shipment. Hawkeye Glove maintains no RFID equipment at any of its locations. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We ship to the DOD from three facilities and may add a fourth,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Meyer. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not sure we could justify the cost if we had to install equipment for RFID compliance at each.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

About one-third of RFID 4DOD users choose to have Odyssey print and ship their smart labels, with the rest printing on site. Wherever printing\/encoding occurs, the RFID smart labels are produced by a Zebra R110Xi, which is the only printer\/encoder Odyssey RFID trusts for its system.<\/p>\n

The R110Xi encodes the standard EPCglobal Gen 2 RFID tags the DOD requires, and includes a software-defined radio (SDR) so other RFID protocols can also be supported. The R110Xi is rugged, reliable in high duty cycle applications, and offers multiple connec- tivity and remote management options.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Reliability is paramount to us because we are remotely managing more than 70 RFID devices at our customer sites, plus the equipment in our own service bureau,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Andrew Lim, vice president of sales and marketing at Odyssey RFIDTM. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t afford any down- time, and neither can our customers. We use best-of-breed components, and that includes Zebra printers and supplies.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Zebra quality and reliability is clear to customers, too. Silas Martin, IT manager at Winston Salem Industries for the Blind, which provides the DOD with uniforms and other apparel, has firsthand experience with the R110Xi and a competitive model that is part of a legacy compliance tagging system used at a subcontractor facility.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve worked with different solutions and can compare the equipment,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Martin. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I could see Zebra\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s superior construction just by opening the box. The R110Xi is made from stainless steel, others are made of plastic. The other printer\/encoder we use was installed first. Once the Zebra was running, it was like looking at a Cadillac next to a Pinto.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Results<\/strong>
\nSuppliers have used Odyssey RFID 4DODTM to ship tens of thousands of RFID tagged cases and scores of companies use it every month to meet their RFID requirements. One customer, Bernard Cap, used the service to become the first contractor to meet the DOD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s VIM-ASAP reporting requirements for textile suppliers.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We went to a meeting for textile suppliers and the DOD singled us out for complying perfectly,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Larry Weinstein of Bernard Cap. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We were the only one, and there were several hundred companies at the meeting. We were one of the smallest suppliers there by far.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Bernard Cap is one of many small suppliers who use the Odyssey RFID 4DODTM service and appreciate the convenience it provides.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I had a lot of concerns when I learned about the DOD RFID requirements and thought it would be very time-consuming,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Ramppen of New Dynamics. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The most surprising thing about becoming compliant with the DOD is how easy it was. It would have cost much more and taken us much longer if we had to develop and install our own system.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We have multiple people access the system at different facilities, and they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve all been able to pick it right up and use it no problems,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Meyer of Hawkeye Glove. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If someone prepares an RFID order for shipping at one of our other facilities, I get automatic notification. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s surprising how little I actually have to do for the order.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Suppliers also appreciate not having to invest heavily in a system that will only be used for one customer, and perhaps only for one order. If the DOD doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t renew a contract, the supplier can simply cancel their subscription to Odyssey RFID 4DODTM and isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t stuck with equipment or software.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153When you factor in support, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s another big issue,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Martin of Winston Salem Industries for the Blind. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I have to remotely support different sites. Odyssey RFIDTM takes care of all the maintenance and upgrades for their system. The other system we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re running has already come out with upgrades, which I had to manage. Our other system also went down, so I had to diagnose why and take corrective action. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have to worry about these issues with the Odyssey RFID 4DODTM service.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Challenge Many suppliers to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)\u00e2\u20ac\u201despecially those who use radio frequency identification (RFID) printer\/encoders and supplies from Zebra Technologies \u00e2\u20ac\u201d have learned that producing accurate RFID labels for shipments is the easy part of meeting the DOD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s compliance requirements. The hard part is matching shipments to contract numbers and orders, generating […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[135],"tags":[2268,13],"yoast_head":"\nZebra Ensures Reliability for Innovative DOD RFID Compliance Service - Barcoding News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/zebra-ensures-reliability-for-innovative-dod-rfid-compliance-service\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Zebra Ensures Reliability for Innovative DOD RFID Compliance Service - Barcoding News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Challenge Many suppliers to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)\u00e2\u20ac\u201despecially those who use radio frequency identification (RFID) printer\/encoders and supplies from Zebra Technologies \u00e2\u20ac\u201d have learned that producing accurate RFID labels for shipments is the easy part of meeting the DOD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s compliance requirements. The hard part is matching shipments to contract numbers and orders, generating […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/zebra-ensures-reliability-for-innovative-dod-rfid-compliance-service\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Barcoding News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2010-07-14T16:17:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2019-10-16T19:39:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"BarcodesInc\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"BarcodesInc\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/zebra-ensures-reliability-for-innovative-dod-rfid-compliance-service\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/zebra-ensures-reliability-for-innovative-dod-rfid-compliance-service\/\",\"name\":\"Zebra Ensures Reliability for Innovative DOD RFID Compliance Service - Barcoding News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2010-07-14T16:17:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-10-16T19:39:43+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/9075e424de66d3a8dbf8dd208df8e8c7\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/zebra-ensures-reliability-for-innovative-dod-rfid-compliance-service\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/zebra-ensures-reliability-for-innovative-dod-rfid-compliance-service\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/zebra-ensures-reliability-for-innovative-dod-rfid-compliance-service\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Case Studies\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/category\/case-studies\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Zebra Ensures Reliability for Innovative DOD RFID Compliance Service\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/\",\"name\":\"Barcoding News\",\"description\":\"Barcode, Auto-ID, Point of Sale and RFID News\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/9075e424de66d3a8dbf8dd208df8e8c7\",\"name\":\"BarcodesInc\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/author\/jn\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Zebra Ensures Reliability for Innovative DOD RFID Compliance Service - Barcoding News","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.barcodesinc.com\/news\/zebra-ensures-reliability-for-innovative-dod-rfid-compliance-service\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Zebra Ensures Reliability for Innovative DOD RFID Compliance Service - Barcoding News","og_description":"Challenge Many suppliers to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)\u00e2\u20ac\u201despecially those who use radio frequency identification (RFID) printer\/encoders and supplies from Zebra Technologies \u00e2\u20ac\u201d have learned that producing accurate RFID labels for shipments is the easy part of meeting the DOD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s compliance requirements. 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